crisp

The word “crisp” means firm and easily broken, in a satisfying way (used for food, fabric, or air). In plain terms, firm and pleasingly brittle, or clear and precise; in British English, also a fried potato snack.

“Crisp” is pronounced krihsp (/kɹɪsp/ in IPA).

Here is “crisp” used in a sentence: “The apple was crisp and juicy.”

Depending on how it is used, “crisp” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “crisp” comes from Latin. From Old English crisp, "curly," from Latin crispus — originally describing curly hair, later extended to the crackly, brittle sense we use today.

“Crisp” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Crisp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: firm and easily broken, in a satisfying way (used for food, fabric, or air).

In British English, a crisp is a thin fried slice of potato sold as a snack, while in American English the same snack is called a "chip." American English reserves "crisp" mainly as an adjective describing texture, whereas British English uses it as the noun for the snack itself.

When describing weather, crisp means cold, fresh, and invigorating, often used for clear autumn or winter days, as in "a crisp morning." This sense draws on the adjective's core meaning of being sharp and pleasingly firm, applied metaphorically to the feel of the air.